Genotype-Environment Interaction in Sheep. I. Ewe Productivity

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Abstract
Relatively little critical information is available on the importance of interaction between genotype and environment in sheep, with the notable exception of the Australian Merino (Dunlop, 1962, 1963, 1966; Morley, 1956; Lax and Turner, 1965). This lack of experimental results is particularly acute with respect to components of reproduction and maternal performance, traits which are highly affected by environmental variations as evidenced by their generally low heritabilities. The multiplicity of sheep breeds throughout the world, greater perhaps than for other species of farm livestock, suggests that breeding for local adaptation may be of considerable importance in the ovine. Traditional beliefs among shepherds and flock-masters support this hypothesis. It is often said in Scotland that the Cheviot is best adapted to grass ranges, the Blackface to heather covered hills. However, the reported belief among shepherds in the North of England (Clarke, 1963) that the Herdwick should be grazed “on the wet side of a fell, the Swaledale on the dry side” may be carrying the idea of local adaptation a bit far. Copyright © 1971. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1971 by American Society of Animal Science.

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